North America: Trump renames Lake Ontario ‘Lake America’ – and has even more in mind

​The renaming of the lake is the latest escalation in the tariff and trade dispute between Canada and the United States, which was initiated by the US. During an official ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Trump replaced the previously widely accepted name with a new one. By executive order, Lake Ontario became Lake America.

Officially, Trump – who is known for his erratic behaviour – justified the move by citing Canada’s past economic conduct. In reality, however, according to numerous observers, the move was taken as an immediate retaliation for the breakdown of the current negotiations in the trade dispute with this key partner – and for the general rejection that Trump and his policies are now facing in the northern neighbour.

Months of provocations

Following months of provocations by Trump and the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs, Canada finally withdrew from the negotiations at the start of the week, partly because the US had demanded interference in the linguistic autonomy of the French-speaking Canadian province of Québec, as well as a say in Canada’s future trade talks with other countries.

Trump reacted immediately by threatening to rename the lake – although it was clear from the outset that this measure would have no bearing whatsoever on the actual dispute. Yesterday, he finally put his words into action.

Hardly any practical consequences

As with the measure unilaterally announced by Trump back in February 2025, Renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, the implications are limited even at a nautical level: whilst shipping on the Great Lakes must now adapt its terminology for cross-border traffic, the previous name remains valid both in Canada and internationally.

The name ‘Lake Ontario’ has been in use for at least 400 years – longer, in fact, than the two modern states on its shores. In the language of the indigenous peoples, the name means ‘beautiful big lake’.

Not big enough for Trump

Apparently not good enough – and certainly not big enough – for Trump: during the event at the White House, the slogan “Make the Great Lakes even Greater” could be seen in the background – a clear allusion to the slogan of his MAGA movement: “Make America Great Again”.

Whilst answering a question from the press, the US President, in his usual manner, teased the journalists present: now that they had a bay and a lake, all they needed was an ocean – “the Atlantic or the Pacific. Or both”.

Canada is responding in a mature manner

Canadian officials refused to be drawn into an emotional reaction to the provocation. In a matter-of-fact post, Prime Minister Mike Carney simply clarified the historical context surrounding the name. For Canadians, the lake would be ‘now and forever’ Lake Ontario.